Portable log-debarker having swingable frame mounting a driven feed wheel



Feb. 28, 1950 o. BOUCHARD 2,498,786

PORTABLE LOG-DEBARKER HAVING SWINGABLE FRAME MOUNTING A DRIVEN FEED WHEEL Filed Sept. 30. 1946 Patented Fehe 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE LOG-DEBARKER HAVING SWINGABLE FRAME MOUNTING A nnrvEN FEED WHEEL OreaulBonchard, Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada Application September 30, 1946, Serial No. 700,237 2 Claims. (Cl. 144-208) The present invention pertains to a machine for stripping the bark from logs. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine of this character that is easily transportable in a forest to such places at which a supply of cut logs is available. Another object of the invention is to provide a barking machine with novel means to rotate and axially advance a log during removal of the bark by a rotating knife.

To accomplish these objects, the machine is provided with a frame structure which carries a power unit such as a gasoline engine for driving a main shaft that carries the knife. The frame carries a swinging frame which supports a toothed wheel for rotating and axially advancing a log. A suitable drive from the motor or the main shaft to the log-feeding wheel is provided. The feed wheel is carried on a shaft lying angular to the axis of the knife or angular to the log supported in the manner described. Consequently, the wheel feeds the log longitudinally across the knife and rotates it at the same time whereby the entire surface of the log is eventually stripped.

The longitudinal speed of the log is controlled by bringing the feed wheel into operation against the log only when desired. The swinging frame carrying the feed wheel is counter-balanced in a manner so as to raise the wheel out of contact with the log, and contact is made as desired by foot pressure on a lever which is connected by a chain to the swinging frame.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device;

. Figure 2 is aplan view thereof, and

Figure 3 is a detail longitudinal vertical section.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The frame of the machine is indicated in general by the numeral l and has its bottom formed as skids 2 so that it may be pulled along the ground from place to place in logging operations. On an intermediate horizontal member 3 of the frame is supported the power plant 4 which may be, for example, a small air-cooled gasoline engine.

On an upper section 5 of the frame is journalled a transverse main shaft 6 connected to the motor shaft 1 by pulleys 8 and belting 9. Between the shafts 6 and l, a countershaft I0 is journalled transversely upon the frame and is belted to the main shaft 6 as indicated by the numeral I I.

A pair of uprights l2 extend from opposite sides of the frame at an intermediate point thereof and support between them a swinging frame IS on swivel pins l4. The swinging frame has a transverse drive shaft l5 journalled thereon. The forward end of the swinging frame carries a feed shaft l6 driven from the shaft l5 through a sprocket and chain connection H. The shaft IS, in turn, is driven from the countershaft l0 through a sprocket and chain connection IS.

The feed shaft i6 has an angular extension l9 connected to one end thereof by a universal joint 20 and its opposite end mounted in a bearing 2| carried by the swinging frame l3. The extension l9 carries a log-feeding wheel 22 which lies in a plane angular to a vertical longitudinal plane of the frame I. The opposite end of the swinging frame i3 is balanced by a counterweight 23.

Adjacent to the shaft extension [9, the main shaft 6 carries a rotary knife 24 comprising a series of substantially tangential blades 25. For-- ward of the shaft 6, the frame top 5 carries a roller shaft 26 on which are mounted a. pair of spaced roller disks 21 directly opposite the knife 24. At opposite sides of the knife 24, the shaft 6 carries similar disks 28 engaged by the log after it has been stripped. As shown in Figure 1, the log normally lies between the knife 24 and the rollers 21 and is engaged by the ends of the blades 25.

The forward end of the swinging frame I3 is connected by a chain 29 to a foot lever 30 pivoted at 3| to a side of the frame I. when the rotating feed wheel 22 is brought into contact with the log, as desired, the latter is advanced longitudinally by reason of the oblique position of the wheel. The log is barked as it is moved across the rotatin ife 24.

At one end of the frame I are two corner posts 32, to the upper ends 33 of which are secured arms 34 extending substantially lengthwise of the frame while diverging laterally and sloping upward as shown. The logs are laid on the arms and moved upward on them toward the knife 24, as may be seen in Figure 1.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A log barking machine comprising a frame, a knife rotatably supported thereby, log-supporting rollers mounted on said frame opposite said knife. a swinging frame supported by the first named frame to swing between operative and inoperative positions, means biasing said swinging frame to its inoperative position, a shaft journalied on said swinging frame, means for driving said knife and shaft, an angular extension from said shaft and having a universal connection tl ereto, a log-feeding wheel carried by said extension to engage a log supported between said knife and rollers, alever pivoted on said first named frame, flexible means connecting said swinging frame and lever to normally hold said swinging frame andwheel in inoperative position, said lever and flexible means being operable to move said swinging frame and wheel into operative position, and arms mounted on the sides of said first named frame to support a log mounted between said knife and rollers, said arms slop; ing upwardly in the direction from said rollers to said knife and diverging outwardly from said frame.

4 2. A log barking machine as deflned in claim 1, said flexible means comprising a chain.

OREZUL BOUCHARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

